§ 39. Mr. SEXTONasked the Minister of Labour whether sailors who have been shipwrecked and paid off in a foreign port are regarded as not qualified for unemployment benefit until they have been 14 days in the United Kingdom, although in many cases two months or more may have elapsed from the date on which the men last received any wages 2918 until they arrive at a home port; and, if so, whether he will take whatever steps are necessary to secure that these men shall be entitled to claim benefit on their arrival?
§ Sir M. BARLOWA claim to unemployment benefit cannot be made until the seaman reaches the United Kingdom, and under the Unemployment Insurance Acts a waiting period of six days—not 14 days as stated in the question—must then be served before benefit can become due. I will consider whether there is any power under the Acts to enable benefit to become payable from the date of arrival in the United Kingdom in the class of cases referred to.
§ Mr. SEXTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that shipwrecked sailors are not under pay while coming home and that sometimes two months may have elapsed since they received their last pay? Is he also aware of the fact that the shipowners of the country are in sympathy with this proposal, particularly the hon. Member for Cardiff (Mr. Gould) to whom I spoke about it to-day?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am glad to hear of that co-operation, but I would remind the hon. Member that my powers in this and all other questions of administration with regard to unemployment insurance are limited by Statute. I promise that I will look into the matter sympathetically and see what I can do.